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A Few Comments on Electrostatic Interactions in Cell Physiology

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Abstract

The role of fixed charges present at the surface of biological membranes is usually described by the Gouy-Chapman-Grahame theory of the electric double-layer where the Grahame equation is applied independently on each side of the membrane and where the capacitive charges (linked to the transmembrane ionic currents) are disregarded. In this article, we generalize the Gouy-Chapman-Grahame theory by taking into account both intrinsic charges (resulting from the dissociation of membrane constituents) and capacitive charges, in the density value of the membrane surface charges. In the first part, we show that capacitive charges couple electrostatic potentials present on both sides of the membrane. The intensity of this coupling depends both on the value of the membrane specific capacitance and the transmembrane electric potential difference. In the second part, we suggest some physiological implications of membrane electric double-layers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U. 483, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Boître 23, 9 quai Saint-Bernard, 75252, Paris Cedex 05, France

    Stéphane Genet

  2. INSERM U. 483, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Boître 23, 9 quai Saint-Bernard, 75252, Paris Cedex 05, France. E-mail

    Robert Costalat

  3. LISA, Université d'Angers, 62 boulevard Notre-Dame du Lac, 49045, Angers Cedex, France

    Jacques Burger

Authors
  1. Stéphane Genet
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  2. Robert Costalat
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  3. Jacques Burger
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Genet, S., Costalat, R. & Burger, J. A Few Comments on Electrostatic Interactions in Cell Physiology. Acta Biotheor 48, 273–287 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010229531210

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